Courts in Massachusetts generally presume the happiness and welfare of children is best preserved when they maintain a relationship with both parents. However, that does not mean courts favor joint custody arrangements. In fact, Mass. Gen. Law ch. 208, §31...
By Your Side Throughout Your Case
Child Custody
Who Can Claim a Child as a Dependent on Taxes After Divorce?
Although the tax exemptions for dependents have been discontinued, the tax code still offers numerous tax benefits for those who can claim a child as a dependent on their tax return. So, when parents divorce, who gets to claim their child? Can they share the child for...
Birdnesting in Divorce in Massachusetts
Parents who want to minimize the stress and disruption for their children during divorce in Massachusetts often consider adopting a strategy known as birdnesting. In this technique, the divorcing couple maintains the family home for the children and they alternate...
New Child Support Guidelines in Massachusetts
New child support guidelines take effect in Massachusetts on October 4, 2021. The new standards will apply to every child support order and judgment entered starting on that date and going forward. What do the new guidelines include? How could they affect your...
How Does Massachusetts Determine If a Parent Is Unfit?
During heated custody cases, disgruntled ex-spouses may throw around the phrase “unfit parent.” If you are in the midst of a divorce or custody battle involving minor children, you should understand the legal standard for parental “unfitness” in Massachusetts. What Is...
What Custody Schedule is Best for the Child?
A child custody schedule in Massachusetts is determined by the “best interests of the child” standard. While there is no set standard for what is in the best interests of a child since every case is different, several factors will weigh into the court’s consideration...
Does Adultery Affect Divorce in Massachusetts?
Does infidelity impact the divorce process? While adultery can cause an emotional upheaval for a divorcing couple, it may not significantly affect the process of a no-fault divorce in Massachusetts. However, there are ways infidelity can make a legal impact on divorce...
Is Massachusetts a Mother State?
It’s a common assumption that mothers usually get custody of the children when parents split. But this isn’t always the case in Massachusetts, where both mothers and fathers have equal rights in child custody cases. While it can be somewhat challenging for fathers to...
How can you protect your rights during a divorce settlement?
When high net worth couples divorce, there are significant assets to divide. One spouse may have much greater visibility than the other to available assets, such as in the case of business ownership. Without proper legal representation a spouse without insight into...
How Can You Protect Your Children?
While it’s every parent’s responsibility to act in the best interest of their children, ex-spouses don’t always see eye-to-eye. Legal guidance may be the best way to ensure that your children and their needs are put first and foremost. When a father was unable to...